ABOUT

I was first introduced to Rhinoceros as a student in the jewelry design department at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. At the time the software was in its first or second iteration, but even then people were referring to it as a tool that would change everything. Flash forward fourteen years, and the reality is that Rhino and other 3D modeling programs have advanced what we can do as designers in previously unimagined ways.

I began working with the program in 2008, around the same time that I started my jewelry design company, with the intention of freelancing as a modeler and renderer for other jewelry designers. I bought the software, loaded it onto my computer, read a few of the initial tutorials, built a couple of spherical objects, and didn’t touch it again for months. I was completely intimidated by the user interface, and had little hope of mastering the program, ever.

As luck would have it, a great job opportunity presented itself, with one catch: I needed to know Rhino. I was excited about the offer, so I started to teach myself. Needless to say, I wasn’t hired: even for the user with an extremely high aptitude, learning this program takes a while. But I was hooked: I took classes, I worked on projects, I freelanced, I tortured the nice people at McNeel. Finally about seven years ago I became an authorized Rhino trainer.

I teach through a combination of demonstration and practice. In my experience, a theoretical understanding of Rhino’s commands is only the beginning–to master this program you need both practical knowledge of what the commands will and will not do and the ability to problem-solve and troubleshoot when you run into Rhino’s limitations.

So how does it work? You show up with your laptop or rent one from me (PC only), and we get started. Over the course of 24 hours I cover a series of topics and exercises based on those prescribed by McNeel, as well as some special projects that I’ve devised to allow you to test your grasp of what you’ve learned. Each Los Angeles class has a maximum of eight students, and at the end of our time together you will have a much clearer understanding of how to use this program. Following the class I will be available for hourly one-on-ones, or to take phone calls or emailed questions. I am also available for on-site corporate training and freelance projects. Clients include Apple, Walt Disney Imagineering, Google X, Arup, Karcher ID, SRC Inc, Alison Berger, Daniel Clayman Studio, Ellen Kennelly Studio, Poly Wales, Tawapa, Sixth and Hill, Bez Ambar, MAP Guitars, Fodera, and Asher Guitars, to name a few.